Fix: Windows 10 can’t find Wi-Fi network

Problems with WiFi and the internet connection are probably the most common issues Windows 10 users face. And we’ll agree that there’s nothing more annoying for an average user than WiFi issues while browsing the internet. There are various WiFi errors that can eventually occur, and in this article, we’ll try to address as many as possible.

Fix: WiFi connection not working in Windows 10

There are literally tens if not hundreds of various WiFi issues you can encounter while using Windows 10. Here are some of the most common issues:

Windows 10 won’t show available networks – This error shows up when there’s a network problem which prevents available WiFi networks from showing.

Windows 10 no connections are available – This error shows up when there are no connections available to connect to. It tends to show up, even if you know there are actually some available connections.

Windows 10 can’t connect to this network -This error shows up when you’re unable to connect to a certain WiFi network. We have an article dedicated to this issue, so you can combine solutions from that article with solutions from this article. Hopefully, you’ll find a proper solution.

Windows 10 no WiFi icon – This error appears when there’s no WiFI icon in the taskbar at all.

How to fix WiFi problems in Windows 10

Solution 1 – Reset TCP/IP

The first thing we’re going to try is resetting the TCP/IP stack. This is, indeed, one of the most common solutions for network problems in Windows, and can be helpful with other internet issues, as well. Here’s exactly what you need to do:

Go to Search, type cmd, right-click it and run the Command Prompt (Admin).

In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each one:

netsh int ip reset

netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled

netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled

Reboot your PC and try to connect. If the problem is still there, make sure to try out the remaining steps below.

Solution 2 – Change wireless SSID and password on your modem

Another solution that’s quite common when troubleshooting WiFi and network issues is changing the wireless SSID and password of your modem.

Even though we’re talking about resolving the problem with your wireless network, for this workaround you’ll have to connect your computer to the modem using the Ethernet cable. Since the procedure of changing the SSID varies from modem to modem, we can’t tell you what to do precisely. Therefore, we recommend you checking your modem’s manual or looking online for more info.

Solution 3 – Reset your modem (and more)

Now, let’s switch to more basic solutions, which are probably the first thing you’ll do anyway. Here are some of the actions you need to do to troubleshoot your modem/router:

Shut down your router or modem. Wait a minute and power it on.

Disable modem/router’s built-in firewall temporarily.

Reset the modem/router to factory settings

Make sure your router/modem isn’t overheating. Place it far from temperature sources.

Once again, if you’re not sure how to do any of this, check your router/modem manual for more detailed instructions.

Solution 4 – Use the Internet Connection troubleshooter

If you’re on at least Windows 10 version 1703 (Creators Update), you have a new troubleshooting option on the Settings app. This Troubleshooter can be used for resolving various problems within the system, including the WiFi issue we’re talking about. In case you’re not familiar with this tool, here’s how to use it:

Go to Settings.

Open Update & Security.

Navigate to Troubleshoot.

Click on the Internet Connection Troubleshooter.

Now, follow further on-screen instructions, and wait for the wizard to finish

Restart your computer

Solution 5 – Make sure DHCP is on

Now, let’s talk about DHCP. In short words, DHCP is a Windows process that assigns the IP address to your computer when you connect to a network. So, if this process is disabled, your computer won’t be able to obtain the IP address, and therefore, you won’t be able to connect to the internet using your WiFi connection.

So, the first thing we’re going to do is make sure if this process is running. And here’s how to do that:

OpenNetwork Connections.

Locate your network adapter, right-click it and choose Diagnose.

Wait for the process to finish. If the DHCP process was disabled, this will enable it once again.

Solution 6 – Set your IP address manually

If two previous solutions didn’t get the job done, you can always set your IP address manually. If you don’t know how to do that, follow these instructions:

Go to Settings and chooseNetwork Connections.

Right-click your wireless network and choosePropertiesfrom the menu

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and go to Properties.

Now, select the Use the following IP address option and enter the IP address, Subnet mask and Default gateway. We used settings that work for our configuration, but you might have to enter a different number (see the screenshot). In addition, you’ll have to enter the DNS server manually. In our example, we used Google’s Public DNS, but you can also use 192.168.1.1 as your Preferred DNS server.

After you’re done, click theOKbutton.

Solution 7 – Change the number of DHCP users

And finally, the last solution that involves the DHCP process is changing the number of DHCP users. More precisely, you’ll have to increase the number of DHCP users in your router settings. Usually, the limit is 50 DHCP users, and if you go over, WiFi issues may occur.

Once again, since the process of changing the number of DHCP users varies from router to router, it’s better to check the manual for detailed instructions.

Solution 8 – Update network drivers

Another common solution for various network issues is to simply update your WiFi driver. In case you don’t know how to do that, follow these instructions:

Right-click the Start button and open the Device Manager.

Locate and expand Network Adapters.

Right-click your network adapters and click Update driver software. Make sure to do it with both LAN and WLAN adapters.

Wait for the process to finish, restart your PC and try connecting.

If the problem is still there, go back to Device Manager > Network Adapters, and do the following:

Right-click Network Adapters and open Properties.

In the driver tab, click Uninstall.

Now, open the Details tab and locate Hardware Ids in the drop-down list.

Copy the first line and paste it into the browser.

Find proper drivers provided by the official hardware manufacturer.

Download and install those drivers for both LAN and WLAN respectively.

Restart your PC and check the connection again.

In order to prevent PC damage by installing the wrong driver versions, we recommend updating your drivers automatically by using Tweakbit’s Driver Updater tool. After several tests, our team concluded that this is the best-automatized solution.

This tool is approved by Microsoft and Norton Antivirus. Here’s a quick guide how to update your drivers with it.

Once installed, the program will start scanning your PC for outdated drivers automatically. Driver Updater will check your installed driver versions against its cloud database of the latest versions and recommend proper updates. All you need to do is wait for the scan to complete.

Upon scan completion, you get a report on all problem drivers found on your PC. Review the list and see if you want to update each driver individually or all at once. To update one driver at a time, click the ‘Update driver’ link next to the driver name. Or simply click the ‘Update all’ button at the bottom to automatically install all recommended updates.Note: Some drivers need to be installed in multiple steps so you will have to hit the ‘Update’ button several times until all of its components are installed.

Disclaimer: some features of this tool are not free.

Solution 9 – Disable Windows Firewall temporarily

Even though Windows Firewall is a useful feature for the overall security of your system, it can cause issues with your network connection. Because of that, we’re going to disable Firewall temporarily, and see if there are any changes. Here’s how to do that:

Open Control Panel.

Go to System and Security.

Click on Windows Firewall.

Select Turn Windows Firewall on or off from the left side.

Turn off Windows Firewall for both Private and Public networks and confirm the selection.

Restart your computer.

Try connecting.

Solution 10 – Disable the Airplane mode

As unlikely as it seems, many people have reported that the Airplane mode blocked their WiFi connection. So, make sure the Airplane mode is disabled. You can find the Airplane mode icon in the Notification panel in the right corner of the taskbar. However, if the icon is missing, there’s an alternative way to disable it:

Open Settings.

Click Network & Internet.

Click Airplane mode.

Toggle Airplane mode off.

Solution 11 – Use ipconfig /release command

Another command you can perform to resolve the network issues is the ipconfig/release command. Here’s exactly what you need to do:

Go to Search, type cmd, and open Command Prompt (Administrator)

WhenCommand Promptstarts, enter the following lines and after each line pressEnterto run it:

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

Restart your computer, and try to connect again.

Solution 12 – Set the channel width to Auto

Some users also suggested that setting the channel width to Auto will solve the network problem. Here’s exactly how to do that:

Right-click the Start Menu button and select NetworkConnections from the menu.

When Network Connections window opens, right click your wireless connection and choose Properties from the menu. Click the Configure button and go to the Advanced tab.

Locate802.11n Channel Widthfor band2.4and set it toAuto.

ClickOKto save changes.

Solution 13 – Disable IPv6 on your computer and router

In some cases enabling the IPv6 protocol is a way of solving internet issues, but sometimes this very protocol can cause problems. So, if the IPv6 protocol is enabled, we’ll try with disabling it:

OpenNetwork and Sharing Center.

Go to Connections and click your current connection.

Connection status window will open. Click the Properties button.

Find Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP /IPv6) and uncheckit.

ClickOKbutton to save the changes.

Restartyour computer in order to apply the changes.

Solution 14 – Delete your wireless profile

If you Wireless Profile got corrupted, the best way to get things back to where they used to be is to simply delete your Wireless Profile, and create it once again. Here’s how to do that:

Go to Search, type cmd, right-click it and run the Command Prompt (Admin).

When Command Prompt stats enter netsh wlan delete profile name=”WirelessProfileName” and press Enter. Be sure to replace WirelessProfileName with the actual name of your wireless connection.

When the process is finished, you need to reconnect and reconfigure your network, in order to establish the connection once again.

Solution 15 – Disable Family Safety feature

If there’s need for the Family Safety feature, we don’t recommend disabling it. However, there’s a chance this very feature blocks your wireless connection. In that case, you have no other choice than to disable it. Here’s how to do that:

Locate the account that you want to remove and click theRemovebutton. To remove the adult account, be sure to remove all child accounts beforehand.

Solution 16 – Disable your antivirus software

You’ve probably heard about this one before. Windows 10 and its components and features don’t get along with third-party antivirus programs. Because of that interference, various problems may occur. Including our problem with the WiFi network.

So, go and temporarily disable your antivirus program, and check if the connection is now working. If you’re able to normally connect to your WiFi network with your antivirus program disabled, consider changing your antivirus solution, or switch to Windows Defender completely.

Solution 17 – Check for malware

On the contrary to the previous workaround, your connection may be corrupted by some kind of malware. So, it would be a good idea to run your security scan once again. If there’s a connection-blocking malware on your computer, your antivirus will surely eliminate it.

Solution 18 – Change the wireless network mode

Your router and wireless adapter need to be on the same network mode to work seamlessly. If that’s not the case, you’ll experience problems with your WiFi connection. So, you should check the wireless networking mode on your computer, in order to make the connection work again.

Now change the value of Wireless mode so it matches the value of Wireless mode on your router. In most cases, 802.11b(or 802.11g) should work, but if it doesn’t, try experimenting with different options.

Solution 19 – Change Fiddler settings

This one, obviously, only applies to Fiddler users. Some users suggest that changing the Fiddler settings can also resolve this issue. Here’s how to do that:

ClickTools > Fiddler Options.

Navigate to theHTTPStab.

Make sure that the text saysCertificates generated by CertEnroll engine.

As we already mentioned in some of the previous solutions, the WiFi network requires certain services to work properly. So, you need to make sure each one of these services is running. To do so, go to Search > type services.msc > open Services. And now, just make sure these services are running:

Plug And Play

Application Layer Gateway Service

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

Network Connections

Network Location Awareness (NLA)

Telephony

Remote Access Connection Manager

Remote Access Auto Connection Manager

Windows Firewall

That’s about it. We certainly hope at least one of these solutions helped you resolve the problem with your WiFi connection. If you have any additional comments, questions, or suggestions, please let us know in the comments below!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2016 and has been since completely revamped and updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.